Native American History, Negative Stereotypes Highlighted During National American Indian Heritage Month Observance

Story and photos by Lynsie Dickerson, USAREC, Public Affairs OfficeNov. 26, 2014

In celebration of National American
Indian Heritage Month, which occurs each November, U.S. Army Recruiting Command
hosted a National American Indian Heritage Month observance Nov. 25 at the
Patton Museum on Fort Knox.

National American Indian Heritage
Month honors the contributions of American Indians for building the nation and
supporting military services. It also acknowledges the legacy of resilience taught
by the American Indians’ painful history.

“These men and women are laying it
all on the line for the land they love, and they are providing our men and
women in uniform exposure to rich and vibrant customs,” said Maj. Gen. Allen
Batschelet, commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. “It’s our
responsibility to pause today and thank them for their service and cultural
contributions to our armed forces.”

American Indians currently
represent roughly 2 percent of the military population and 1 percent of the
Department of Defense civilian workforce, and 28 American Indians have received
the Medal of Honor, Batschelet said.

“There are roughly 150,000 American
Indian veterans living today,” he said, “with Kentucky being home to more than
300.”

Tressa Brown, coordinator for the
Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission, was the event’s keynote speaker.
Brown discussed stereotypes and myths about Native Americans and the need for
society to make changes to eliminate stereotypes and offensive imagery.

“Native people have been dealing
with stereotypes from the get-go,” Brown said.

The stereotypes we see today can be
traced back to old writings and paintings of American Indians, the Plains
Indian War of 1860-1890, and Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West shows, Brown said.
The result is the image of all American Indians as horse-riding warriors
dressed in beads and feathers.

Brown added that as kids are taught
about American Indians hunting buffalo and living in teepees, some kids don’t
see this happening anymore and so believe that American Indians must not be
around anymore.

“There’s a history here that needs to be
brought up to date,” Brown said. “Everybody moves, everybody advances,
everybody progresses. We’re all just people.”

Following Brown’s presentation,
Scott Middle School students Mackenzie Parker, Maddison Rollings and Eleanor
Abbott read essays they wrote about what they’ve learned about American
Indians. The students were winners of an essay writing contest held at the
school.

Samplings of traditional American
Indian food—including succotash (sweet corn and lima beans), wojape (berry
pudding) and turkey—were provided after the presentations.

Scott Middle School student Mackenzie Parker reads her essay about what she’s learned about Native Americans. Parker is one of the winners of an essay writing contest at the school.